diff --git a/crates/ra_analysis/src/lib.rs b/crates/ra_analysis/src/lib.rs
index 65c3eb3eca2e..b26e9e9ff9be 100644
--- a/crates/ra_analysis/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ra_analysis/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ mod db;
 mod imp;
 mod completion;
 mod symbol_index;
+mod syntax_highlighting;
 pub mod mock_analysis;
 
 use std::{fmt, sync::Arc};
@@ -340,8 +341,7 @@ impl Analysis {
         Ok(ra_editor::runnables(&file))
     }
     pub fn highlight(&self, file_id: FileId) -> Cancelable<Vec<HighlightedRange>> {
-        let file = self.imp.file_syntax(file_id);
-        Ok(ra_editor::highlight(&file))
+        syntax_highlighting::highlight(&*self.imp.db, file_id)
     }
     pub fn completions(&self, position: FilePosition) -> Cancelable<Option<Vec<CompletionItem>>> {
         self.imp.completions(position)
diff --git a/crates/ra_analysis/src/syntax_highlighting.rs b/crates/ra_analysis/src/syntax_highlighting.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..65409beb20f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ra_analysis/src/syntax_highlighting.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+use ra_editor::HighlightedRange;
+use ra_db::SyntaxDatabase;
+
+use crate::{
+    db::RootDatabase,
+    FileId, Cancelable,
+};
+
+pub(crate) fn highlight(db: &RootDatabase, file_id: FileId) -> Cancelable<Vec<HighlightedRange>> {
+    let file = db.source_file(file_id);
+    Ok(ra_editor::highlight(&file))
+}